Electromagnetic Swinging Cradle

ABSTRACT

A cradle includes a base unit, a swinging unit mounted on the base unit, a table board mounted on the swinging unit, and an electromagnetic unit mounted between the base unit and the table board. The electromagnetic unit includes a housing secured on the base unit, an electromagnetic device mounted in the housing, a box mounted on the table board and corresponding to the electromagnetic device, and two magnet sets mounted in the box. Thus, the electromagnetic device is started and produces a magnetism to repel or attract the two magnet sets which drive the table board to swing reciprocally.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cradle and, more particularly, to an electromagnetic swinging cradle for placing a baby.

2. Description of the Related Art

The cradle is used to place a baby so that the baby can lie and sleep in the cradle to facilitate the baby minder nursing the baby. A conventional cradle comprises a motor which drives a linkage to move reciprocally so as to swing the cradle. However, the motor produces great noise during operation, thereby affecting the baby's sleeping. In addition, the conventional cradle is operated by a mechanic swinging action, so that the conventional cradle cannot swing smoothly and stably. Further, the conventional cradle has a complicated construction, thereby increasing the cost of production.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a cradle that performs a swinging action reciprocally in an electromagnetically actuating manner, thereby greatly reducing the noise produced during operation.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cradle comprising a base unit, a swinging unit mounted on the base unit, a table board mounted on the swinging unit, and an electromagnetic unit mounted between the base unit and the table board. The base unit includes two stands and two side support rods secured between the two stands. One of the two stands is provided with a recessed portion. The swinging unit includes two primary swinging brackets, four secondary swinging brackets, two links and an enclosed bar. Two of the four secondary swinging brackets are pivotally connected with one of the two side support rods and located beside the two stands, and the other two of the four secondary swinging brackets are pivotally connected with the other one of the two side support rods and located beside the two stands. Each of the two links is secured between two of the four secondary swinging brackets. One of the two primary swinging brackets is pivotally connected with two of the four secondary swinging brackets and located beside one of the two stands, and the other one of the two primary swinging brackets is pivotally connected with the other two of the four secondary swinging brackets and located beside the other one of the two stands. The enclosed bar is mounted on the two primary swinging brackets. The table board is mounted on and supported by the two primary swinging brackets of the swinging unit. The electromagnetic unit includes a housing secured on the recessed portion of the base unit, an electromagnetic device mounted in the housing, a box mounted on the table board and corresponding to the electromagnetic device, and two magnet sets mounted in the box. The box has an interior provided with two receiving chambers, and an opening defined between the two receiving chambers. The two magnet sets are mounted in the two receiving chambers of the box.

Preferably, each of the two primary swinging brackets is pivotally connected with a fastener which is pivotally connected with and hooked on one of the four secondary swinging brackets to restrict swinging of the two primary swinging brackets and the four secondary swinging brackets.

Accordingly, after the electromagnetic device is started, the electromagnetic device produces a magnetism to repel or attract the two magnet sets, and the box drives and moves the table board toward the direction the same as that of the two side support rods, so that the table board is driven to swing reciprocally in an electromagnetically actuating manner. Thus, the electromagnetic device greatly reduces the noise produced during operation, to overcome the drawbacks of the conventional motor which produces great noise during operation. In addition, the table board swings smoothly and stably in the electromagnetically actuating manner. Further, the cradle has a simplified construction, thereby enhancing the efficiency of assembly, facilitating maintenance and decreasing the cost of production.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cradle in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cradle in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the cradle in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plane view of the cradle in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic operational view of the cradle as shown in FIG. 4 in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a cradle in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a base unit 1, a swinging unit 2 mounted on the base unit 1, a table board 3 mounted on the swinging unit 2, and an electromagnetic unit 4 mounted between the base unit 1 and the table board 3.

The base unit 1 includes two stands 11 and two side support rods 13 secured between the two stands 11. Each of the two stands 11 is substantially inverted U-shaped and has two distal ends extending downward. One of the two stands 11 is provided with a recessed portion 12. The recessed portion 12 is located at a middle position of an upper portion of the one of the two stands 11. The two side support rods 13 flank the recessed portion 12 of the one of the two stands 11.

The swinging unit 2 includes two primary swinging brackets 23, four secondary swinging brackets 21, two links 22 and an enclosed bar 25. Two of the four secondary swinging brackets 21 are pivotally connected with one of the two side support rods 13 and located beside the two stands 11, and the other two of the four secondary swinging brackets 21 are pivotally connected with the other one of the two side support rods 13 and located beside the two stands 11. Preferably, the upper end of each of the four secondary swinging brackets 21 is pivotally mounted on the respective side support rod 13. The two links 22 are parallel with the two side support rods 13. Each of the two links 22 is secured between two of the four secondary swinging brackets 21. Each of the two primary swinging brackets 23 is substantially U-shaped and has two distal ends extending upward. One of the two primary swinging brackets 23 is pivotally connected with two of the four secondary swinging brackets 21 and located beside one of the two stands 11, and the other one of the two primary swinging brackets 23 is pivotally connected with the other two of the four secondary swinging brackets 21 and located beside the other one of the two stands 11. Preferably, each of the two primary swinging brackets 23 has a lower portion pivotally connected with the lower end of the respective secondary swinging brackets 21. The enclosed bar 25 is mounted on the two primary swinging brackets 23 and is secured to the two distal ends of each of the two primary swinging brackets 23.

The table board 3 is mounted on and supported by the two primary swinging brackets 23 of the swinging unit 2.

The electromagnetic unit 4 includes a housing 41 secured on the recessed portion 12 of the base unit 1, an electromagnetic device 42 mounted in the housing 41, a box 43 mounted on the table board 3 and corresponding to the electromagnetic device 42, and two magnet sets 44 mounted in the box 43. The housing 41 is disposed under the box 43, with a determined distance defined between the housing 41 and the box 43. The box 43 has an elongate shape and is located beneath the table board 3. The box 43 has an interior provided with two receiving chambers 431, and an opening 432 defined between the two receiving chambers 431 to save the cost of material. The two magnet sets 44 are mounted in the two receiving chambers 431 of the box 43 and form a magnetic field by provision of the opening 432. The two receiving chambers 431 of the box 43 are directed toward a direction the same as that of the two side support rods 13, so that the two magnet sets 44 are also directed toward the direction the same as that of the two side support rods 13. In practice, the electromagnetic device 42 produces a magnetism to repel or attract the two magnet sets 44.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the two distal ends of each of the two stands 11 is provided with a castor.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the two primary swinging brackets 23 is pivotally connected with a fastener 24 which is pivotally connected with and hooked on one of the four secondary swinging brackets 21 to restrict swinging of the two primary swinging brackets 23 and the four secondary swinging brackets 21.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the housing 41 of the electromagnetic unit 4 includes two shells juxtaposed to each other and combined together.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two magnet sets 44 have the same arrangement, that is, the two magnet sets 44 have the same weight, size and number. Preferably, each of the two magnet sets 44 includes two overlapping magnets.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 with reference to FIGS. 1-3, after the electromagnetic device 42 is started, the electromagnetic device 42 produces a magnetism to repel or attract the two magnet sets 44. At this time, the housing 41 is secured on the recessed portion 12 of the base unit 1, so that the housing 41 is fixed and cannot be moved. In addition, the four secondary swinging brackets 21 are pivotally connected with the two side support rods 13, and the two primary swinging brackets 23 are pivotally connected with the four secondary swinging brackets 21, so that the two primary swinging brackets 23 and the four secondary swinging brackets 21 are pivoted relative to the two side support rods 13 and the two stands 11. In such a manner, after the table board 3 is pushed and moved by an external force, the two primary swinging brackets 23 are moved with the table board 3, so that the two primary swinging brackets 23 and the four secondary swinging brackets 21 are pivoted relative to the two side support rods 13. If the electromagnetic device 42 produces a magnetism to repel the two magnet sets 44, the two magnet sets 44 are repelled successively by the magnetism of the electromagnetic device 42 to drive and move the table board 3 toward the direction the same as that of the two side support rods 13, so that the table board 3 swings reciprocally. If the electromagnetic device 42 produces a magnetism to attract the two magnet sets 44, the two magnet sets 44 are attracted successively by the magnetism of the electromagnetic device 42 to drive and move the table board 3 toward the direction the same as that of the two side support rods 13, so that the table board 3 swings reciprocally. Thus, the table board 3 is driven to swing reciprocally in an electromagnetically actuating manner.

Accordingly, the cradle performs a swinging action reciprocally in an electromagnetically actuating manner, thereby greatly reducing the noise produced during operation. In addition, the table board 3 swings smoothly and stably in the electromagnetically actuating manner, thereby providing a comfortable sensation to the baby placed in the cradle. Further, the cradle has a simplified construction, thereby enhancing the efficiency of assembly, facilitating maintenance and decreasing the cost of production.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the invention. 

1. A cradle comprising: a base unit; a swinging unit mounted on the base unit; a table board mounted on the swinging unit; and an electromagnetic unit mounted between the base unit and the table board; wherein: the base unit includes two stands and two side support rods secured between the two stands; one of the two stands is provided with a recessed portion; the swinging unit includes two primary swinging brackets, four secondary swinging brackets, two links and an enclosed bar; two of the four secondary swinging brackets are pivotally connected with one of the two side support rods and located beside the two stands, and the other two of the four secondary swinging brackets are pivotally connected with the other one of the two side support rods and located beside the two stands; each of the two links is secured between two of the four secondary swinging brackets; one of the two primary swinging brackets is pivotally connected with two of the four secondary swinging brackets and located beside one of the two stands, and the other one of the two primary swinging brackets is pivotally connected with the other two of the four secondary swinging brackets and located beside the other one of the two stands; the enclosed bar is mounted on the two primary swinging brackets; the table board is mounted on and supported by the two primary swinging brackets of the swinging unit; the electromagnetic unit includes a housing secured on the recessed portion of the base unit, an electromagnetic device mounted in the housing, a box mounted on the table board and corresponding to the electromagnetic device, and two magnet sets mounted in the box; the box has an interior provided with two receiving chambers, and an opening defined between the two receiving chambers; and the two magnet sets are mounted in the two receiving chambers of the box.
 2. The cradle of claim 1, wherein each of the two distal ends of each of the two stands is provided with a castor.
 3. The cradle of claim 1, wherein each of the two primary swinging brackets is pivotally connected with a fastener which is pivotally connected with and hooked on one of the four secondary swinging brackets to restrict swinging of the two primary swinging brackets and the four secondary swinging brackets.
 4. The cradle of claim 1, wherein the housing of the electromagnetic unit includes two shells juxtaposed to each other and combined together.
 5. The cradle of claim 1, wherein: each of the two magnet sets includes two overlapping magnets. each of the two stands is substantially inverted U-shaped and has two distal ends extending downward; the recessed portion is located at a middle position of an upper portion of the one of the two stands; the two side support rods flank the recessed portion of the one of the two stands; the two links are parallel with the two side support rods; each of the two primary swinging brackets is substantially U-shaped and has two distal ends extending upward; the enclosed bar is secured to the two distal ends of each of the two primary swinging brackets; the housing is disposed under the box; the box has an elongate shape and is located beneath the table board; and the two receiving chambers of the box are directed toward a direction the same as that of the two side support rods. 